Artificial denture.



G. P. BALGER.

ARTIFICIAL DENTURE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED DEG. 27. 1912.

1 ,07 1 ,01 9, Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOuR/mfl c.

CHARLES P. BALGER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

ARTIFICIAL DENTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26,1913.

Application filed December 2'7, 1912. Serial No. 738,856.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES P. BALGER, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, county ofHamilton, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Artificial Dentures, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to artificial dentures of the type in which theteeth are attached to a plate adapted to fit upon and engage the dentalridge of the patients mouth.

Dental plates of various well-known types are now provided, withsatisfactory results in some cases, but which, in other cases, proveunsatisfactory, either because they do not serve rigidly to retain-thedenture in its proper position, or because of the discomfort which theiruse occasions. Especially where the dental or alveolar ridge is low, orfiat, is the patient subjected to the annoyance of either one or both ofthese defects.

The object of my invention is to overcome the defects above mentionedand to provide a plate for artificial dentures which will assuresatisfactory results in all cases, means being provided rigidly tosecure the plate to the dental ridge without discomfort to the wearerregardless of the conformation of the mouth and dental ridge of thepatient.

WVith such object in view my invention consists in details ofconstructon hereinafter fully set forth.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a top view of an upper plate; Fig. 2 is asimilar view of a slightly modified form of the same plate; Fig. 3 is anelevation of an upper denture; Fig. at is a section of the upperdenture; Fig. 5 is a view of the under side,

of a lower plate; Fig. 6 is a section of said lower plate.

The numeral 1 indicates the plate, either upper or lower, to which theteeth are attached. Said plate may be made of any suitable material andthe teeth attached in the usual manner. The feature of my invent-ionconsists primarily in providing said plate with a low ridge, or rib, ofsoft, elastic material, preferably rubber, said rib being indicatedthroughout the drawings by the numeral 2. As clearly shown in theseveral figures of the drawings, the rib 2 borders the alveolar ridgecavity 3 of the plate and is located, on the rear side of the plate,near the upper edge thereof, but at such a distance therefrom that saidedge may, when the plate is in position in the mouth of the patient,come in contact with the mouth roof, thus protecting the rib of softrubber and preventing the accumulation of food and saliva about thesame. In the construction shown in Fig. 1, the rib extends only aroundthe heels H of the plate, the front portion of the plate being slightlythicker than the other parts thereof, as shown at 5, to form acounter-abutment on the front of the alveolar ridge to increase the gripand adhesion of the plate. In certain cases, however, it is desirable toemploy the modified form of the rib shown in Fig. 2, in which the ribextends entirely around the alveolar ridge cavity of the plate; on thefront side, however, being located but slightly above the lowest portionof said cavity, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. When the rib 2 extendsentirely around the plate, the counter-abutment 5 of the plate may bedispensed with if desired, as it may also, in certain cases, where therib is only partial.

The employment of the rib 2 on the lower denture, as shown in Figs. 5and 6, is the same as in the case of the upper as above set fort-h,except that I prefer generally to have the rib 2, in a lower plate,extend en tirely around the alveolar ridge cavity of said plate.

The operation of my invention will be apparent from the foregoingdescription.

The rib 2, in conjunction with the general formation of the plate, or inconjunction with the counter-abutment 5 and the plate, will create asuction to engage the alveolar ridge of the wearer, thus firmly securingthe artificial denture in its proper position; and the rib 2 being ofsoft, elastic material will not bite into the gums of the patient andwill not, therefore, cause soreness and discomfort. Furthermore, therib, from its location is protected by the hard parts of the plate, andits durability is thus largely increased, while, at the same time, thecondition of the plate, from a sanitary standpoint, is much improvedover the condition of a plate in which a soft, or elastic, suctiondevice is used in an exposed position.

Having thus described my invention, What counter-abutment adapted toabut against I claim as new and desire to secure by Letthe alveolarridge 0n the labia]. side thereters Patent, is: of in opposition to saidrib.

In an artificial denture, the combination CHARLES P. BALGER.

With a plate of an elastic rib 011 said plate, Witnesses:

ARTHUR H. EWALD FREDK. J. VVENDELIN.

said rib being adapted t grasp the alveolar ridge 0n the lingual sldethereof, and a Gepies of this patent may be obtained for five centseach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

